Going Places Class 12 English Important Questions and Answers

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Mastering the chapter Going Places from Class 12 English (Flamingo) is crucial for scoring high in your board exams, as it frequently appears in both short and long-answer sections. This chapter beautifully explores the themes of adolescent fantasizing, hero-worship, and the harsh contrast between dreams and reality through the story of Sophie and Jansie.

To help you ace your preparation, we have compiled a comprehensive list of Going Places Class 12 English important questions and answers, including previous years' board questions (PYQs), extra questions, and value-based long answers. Whether you are looking for a quick revision or deep-dive practice solutions, this guide covers everything you need to secure full marks in this chapter.

Going Places Class 12 Extra Questions & Answers

Q. No. 1) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

i. The story entitled, “Going Places” presents a fine blend of which of the following literary devices:

a. Similes

b. Irony

c. Hyperbole

d. Metaphorical expressions

Ans. Option (b)

ii. Choose the option listing the possible titular justifications for the chapter ‘Going Places’.

1. It includes the system of going to watch the football game on a regular basis.
2. It expresses Sophie’s deepest desire to go out with Danny Casey.
3. It is about a girl named Sophie who is an idealist and often dreams of going to various places.
4. It is an idiomatic expression that refers to Sophie going ahead in her career, trying to beat poverty.

a. 1, 2

b. 2, 3

c. 3, 4

d. 1, 4

Ans. Option (b)

iii. Choose the option that marks the differences between the personalities of Sophie and Jansie, even though both of them belong to impoverished families.

a) Option (1)

b) Option (2)

c) Option (3)

d) Option (4)

Ans. Option (b)

iv. ‘Going Places’ is an idiomatic expression which means

a. Movement from one place to another

b. To be successful in one’s career

c. Absurd realities of life

d. Exploring untouched horizons

Ans. Option (b)

v. Why does Sophie want to be an actress?

a. To earn money

b. To become famous

c. To become a fashion designer

d. To earn a lot of money and open a boutique to be a famous fashion designer

Ans. Option (d)

vi. Explain – Words had to be prized out of him like stones out of the ground.

a. It was difficult to speak to him

b. It was difficult to locate him in a shop

c. It was difficult to locate him in factory

d. It was difficult to get information out of him

Ans. Option (d)

vii. ‘Sophie felt a tightening in her throat.’ Why did she feel a tightening in her throat?

a. She was not well.

b. She was not able to accept her middle-class background.

c. She was trying to hide a secret.

d. She was stuffing apple pie in her mouth.

Ans. Option (b)

viii. “He said little at all, ever, voluntarily. Words had to be prized out of him like stones out of the ground.”

Choose the option that states the characteristics of the person being talked about in the above lines.

1. rigid
2. stubborn
3. distant
4. invincible
5. reserved

a) 1, 4

b) 2, 5

c) 2, 3

d) 3, 5

Ans. Option (d)

ix. “Jansie, knowing they were both earmarked for the biscuit factory, became melancholy.”

Choose the option that DOES NOT make the correct usage of the word ‘earmarked’.

a) The money in the locker had been earmarked for another purpose.

b) The investments made in the share market were earmarked for two years.

c) Lakshay and Samrat were earmarked for behaving notoriously in the classroom.

d) My family had been earmarked since we had shifted from our old home.

Ans. Option (c)

Q. No. 2) Multiple Choice Questions based on an extract

“She thinks money grows on trees, doesn’t she, Dad?’ said little Derek, hanging on the back of his father’s chair. Their mother sighed. Sophie watched her back stooped over the sink and wondered at the incongruity of the delicate bow that fastened her apron strings. The delicate-seeming bow and the crooked back. The evening had already blacked in the windows and the small room was steamy from the stove and cluttered with the heavy-breathing man in his vest at the table and the dirty washing piled up in the corner. Sophie felt a tightening in her throat. She went to look for her brother Geoff.

i. Choose the correct option about Sophie’s parents based on the extract given above.

a) Sophie’s parents’ marriage was an example of harmony and affection.

b) Sophie’s relationship with her parents was warm and friendly.

c) Sophie’s mother was subdued while her father was detached.

d) Sophie and her brother didn’t like to stay with their parents.

Ans. Option (c)

ii. Choose the option that supports the contention coming through Derek’s dialogue, “She thinks money grows on trees, doesn’t she, Dad?”.

a) Derek thought his sister to be unreasonable at times.

b) Derek had no faith in Sophie’s abilities to open a boutique.

c) Derek thought of his sister as someone who was not realistic.

d) Derek was not at all happy about Sophie’s habit of daydreaming.

Ans. Option (c)

iii. It could be inferred that Sophie’s mother was fatigued and burdened. Choose the option listing the elements that form the basis of this inference.

1. her sigh
2. her delicate bow
3. her apron’s strings
4. her crooked back

a) 1, 2

b) 3, 4

c) 2, 3

d) 1, 4

Ans. Option (d)

iv. “Sophie felt a tightening in her throat.” Pick the option that lists Sophie’s feelings in this context.

1. anxious
2. annoyed
3. uneasy
4. terrified

a) Options 1 & 3

b) Options 2 & 3

c) Options 1 & 4

d) Options 2 & 4

Ans. Option (a)

v. What was mother most likely thinking when she sighed?

1. "Life would have been different if money did grow on trees!"
2. "I wish he would stop troubling my dear Sophie."
3. "We can only wish; we’ve never had enough anyway."
4. "I’m too tired to respond to such comments anymore."
5. "Our struggles will never end; no matter what Sophie dreams of."

Select the most suitable option.

A. 1, 3 and 5

B. 2, 4 and 5

C. 1 and 4

D. 2 and 3

Ans. Option (A)

vi. The delicate bow on Sophie’s mother’s apron and her crooked back highlights the theme of ______.

A. appearance vs. reality

B. resilience through hardship

C. the fragility of youth

D. the complexity of familial love

Ans. Option (A)

Q. No. 3) Multiple Choice Questions based on an extract:

On Saturday they made their weekly pilgrimage to watch United. Sophie and her father and little Derek went down near the goal — Geoff, as always, went with his mates higher up. United won two-nil and Casey drove in the second goal, a blend of innocence and Irish genius, going round the two big defenders on the edge of the penalty area, with her father screaming for him to pass, and beating the hesitant goalkeeper from a dozen yards. Sophie glowed with pride. Afterwards, Geoff was ecstatic.

i. Their visit to the match was like a ‘weekly pilgrimage’ refers to

a) strong bond as a family.

b) love for a fixed routine.

c) similar feelings of devotion.

d) excitement for the match.

Ans. Option (c)

ii. Based on the following statements, choose the correct option.

• Assertion: “Geoff, as always, went with his mates higher up.”
• Reason 1: Geoff was not very close to his family and lived in his own world.
• Reason 2: Geoff was rude and indifferent towards everyone around him and didn’t care about anyone at all.

a) Reason 1 and Reason 2 both can be inferred from the assertion.

b) Reason 1 can be inferred but Reason 2 cannot be inferred from the assertion.

c) Reason 1 cannot be inferred but Reason 2 can be inferred.

d) Reason 1 and Reason 2 both cannot be inferred.

Ans. Option (b)

iii. ‘Sophie glowed with pride.’ Her pride is the result of

a) belonging to a region where everyone thought of Danny as a hero.

b) watching her father cheer and support Danny.

c) The information she gathered from her brother, about Danny.

d) being an avid fan and her sense of closeness with Danny.

Ans. Option (d)

iv. Choose the option listing the situation in which one would be ‘ecstatic’.

a) Scenario 1

b) Scenario 2

c) Scenario 3

d) Scenario 4

Ans. Option (b)

Q. No. 4) Their father had washed when he came in and his face and arms were shiny and pink and he smelled of soap. He switched on the television, tossed one of little Derek’s shoes from his chair onto the sofa, and sat down with a grunt.

“Sophie meet Danny Casey,” Geoff said. Sophie wriggled where she was sitting at the table. Her father turned his head on his thick neck to look at her. His expression was one of disdain.

“It’s true,” Geoff said.

“I once knew a man who had known Tom Finney,” his father said reverently to the television. “But that was a long time ago.”

“You told us,” Geoff said.

i. Which description of Sophie’s father in the extract indicates that he does not take her claim seriously?

1. He smells of soap.
2. He sits down with a grunt.
3. He turns his head to look at Sophie.
4. He continues to watch television.
5. His expression is one of disdain.

Select the most suitable option.

A. 1 and 2
B. 2 and 3
C. 4 and 5
D. 3 and 5

Ans. Option (C)

ii. Complete the following appropriately.

The father’s casual actions at the beginning of the extract suggest a ________ attitude towards his surroundings.

Ans. practical/ indifferent

iii. Why does Sophie’s father refer to knowing ‘a man who had known Tom Finney’?

Ans. Sophie’s father mentions that he knows “a man who had known Tom Finney” to show that his connection with a famous person is indirect and distant. This is different from Sophie’s unlikely and imaginary claim of knowing Tom Finney personally.

iv. What does Sophie’s physical reaction (wriggled) reveal about her emotional state at that moment?

Ans. It reveals Sophie’s nervousness and discomfort, showing her anxiety about her father’s reaction.

v. The line “It’s true,” spoken by Geoff, highlights his role in the interaction between Sophie and their father. Explain.

Ans. Geoff acts as a mediator by supporting Sophie’s claim, attempting to validate her statement in front of their father.

vi. Which central conflict is most likely highlighted through the interaction among Sophie, Geoff, and their father?

A. Tension between imagination and realism
B. Emotional distance within working-class families
C. Generational disagreement over attitudes and beliefs
D. Contrast between admiration and sceptical realism

Ans. Option (A)

Q. No. 5) What is Sophie’s dream regarding her future? Why does Jansie discourage her from having such dreams?

Ans. Sophie dreamed of having a boutique in the city. To save money to have a boutique, she dreamed of becoming a manager, a fashion designer, or an actress. Jansie discouraged her from having such dreams because Sophie’s dreams were wild and impossible. She had neither the means nor the skill to achieve them.

Q. No. 6) The story is written in a manner that makes it difficult to point out clearly if Sophie met Danny Casey or not. Suggest possible reasons for such writing.

Ans. The story is written in a way that makes it difficult to determine whether or not Sophie met Danny Casey because the author wants to create a sense of ambiguity and suspense. The reader is left to wonder whether Sophie is telling the truth or whether she is simply fantasizing. This ambiguity allows the reader to interpret the story in different ways and to reflect on their own dreams and aspirations.

Q. No. 7) Why is Sophie attracted to Danny Casey?

Ans. Sophie is attracted to Danny Casey because he is a young, famous, and handsome Irish football player. Her family loves watching football, so Casey is a hero and admired figure in their home. Her brother Geoff also likes Casey, which makes Sophie more interested in him. She also feels that knowing Casey would impress Geoff. Thus, her admiration, hero worship, and desire to impress her brother make her attracted to Danny Casey.

Q. No. 8) “Sophie felt a tightening in her throat. She went to look for her brother Geoff.” In the light of this quote, discuss the relationship Sophie shared with Geoff.

Ans. The quote shows that Sophie and Geoff shared a close and trusting relationship. When Sophie felt upset and emotionally disturbed, she went to look for Geoff because she trusted him and depended on him for support and comfort. She felt that Geoff would understand her feelings. This shows that Geoff was an important person in Sophie’s life, especially during difficult emotional moments.

Q. No. 9) What did Sophie find most fascinating in her brother Geoff?

Ans. Sophie was captivated by her brother’s lost and enquiring eyes. He hardly ever spoke, but in his silence, his eyes seemed to be moving in some distant recesses of his mind of which Sophie knew nothing. Sophie was most fascinated by his world of dreams because she could never visit this world.

Q. No. 10) What did Sophie tell Geoff about her meeting with Danny Casey? And why?

Ans. Sophie told Geoff that she had met Danny Casey accidentally outside Royce’s when she was just looking at some clothes in the window. She asked him for his autograph but couldn’t get it because none of them had a paper or pen with them. She shared this incident with Geoff because she knew it would thrill him and he would be highly impressed.

Q. No. 11) Why didn’t Sophie want Jansie to know about her story with Danny?

OR

Why didn’t Sophie trust Jansie enough to tell her about her meeting with Danny?

Ans. Sophie believed that Jansiewas a gawky, stupid girl. She would not be able to keep a secret. She would tell the whole neighborhood. People would come to Sophie to ask her what it was all about. Her father would be angry with her and there would be a row in their family.

Q. No. 12) Sophie is caught between the world she lives in and the world she wants to live in. Elucidate.

Ans. Sophie is caught between the real world she lives in and the dream world she wants. She dreams of a rich, glamorous, and successful life, such as owning a boutique and meeting Danny Casey. However, her reality is very different because her family is poor and has limited opportunities. Thus, Sophie struggles between her big dreams and the harsh reality of her life.

Q. No. 13) Evaluate the two different perspectives on life that Jansie and Sophie represent.

Ans. Jansie embodies a pragmatic view, accepting the practical limitations and societal norms, urging Sophie to be sensible and realistic. In contrast, Sophie symbolizes idealism, yearning for a more glamorous and ambitious life, aspiring for opportunities beyond their current circumstances.

Q. No. 14) According to you, should Sophie have continued to dream, or should she have stuck to the path that had already been chosen for her?

Justify your choice in detail.

Ans. Sophie's dreams reflect her aspirations and desire for a better life beyond her current circumstances. While practicality is essential, nurturing dreams can provide motivation, hope, and drive for personal growth. Hence, balancing dreams with practical steps could have offered a more fulfilling path for Sophie.

Q. No. 15) Why does Sophie's father look at Sophie with disdain in the following scene from 'Going Places’?

"Sophie's met Danny Casey", Geoff said.

Ans.

• Sophie's father is annoyed with her because he thinks that she makes up stories.
• He is irritated with her because she remains aloof from reality; he wants her to be practical and rooted in reality.
• He thinks lowly of Sophie because she always lies about things.

Q. No. 16) Danny Casey was just a wild fantasy of Sophie or a wonderful reality. Elucidate.

Ans. Danny Casey may have been Sophie’s wild fantasy rather than a real meeting.

• Sophie had never met Danny Casey before. She had only seen him playing football from a distance.
• Sophie lived in an imaginary world and treated Casey as her hero and idol.
• She imagined meeting Casey while she was looking at clothes.
• According to Sophie, Casey stood beside her, spoke to her, and promised to meet her the following week for an autograph.
• However, there is no proof that the meeting really happened.
• Therefore, the meeting with Casey seems to be another dream or fantasy in Sophie’s imagination, showing her desire to escape from her ordinary life.

Q. No. 17) “Sophie’s dream world clashes with the world of her family and friends”. Bring out the stark difference between the two worlds.

Ans. Sophie's dream world was filled with aspirations of owning a boutique, akin to Mary Quant's success and creating a remarkable shop. She envisioned herself in glamorous roles like an actress or a fashion designer, eager to break free from the confines of her family's financial struggles. On the contrary, Jansie, grounded in reality, understood their predetermined fate at the biscuit factory due to their economic limitations. She urged Sophie to be sensible, knowing their family's financial constraints and the unlikelihood of such dreams becoming a reality. The clash between Sophie's imaginative ambitions and the stark practicality of their family's situation highlighted the stark difference between her idealistic dreams and the challenging reality they faced in their lower-middle-class environment.

Q. No. 18) In what way was Sophie's hero worship and fantasising at odds with her socio-economic background? Was she justified in dreaming the 'impossible’?

Ans. Sophie’s hero worship and dreams were not suitable for her poor socio-economic background. She dreamed of opening a boutique and becoming a manager, actress, or fashion designer. However, her family had little money and did not even have a decent house. Their limited circumstances made it likely that they would have to work in the biscuit factory.

Sophie also admired Danny Casey, a famous Irish football player, and dreamed of a glamorous life with him. These dreams seemed impossible because of her difficult circumstances.

However, Sophie was justified in dreaming because her dreams gave her hope, motivation, and the desire to have a better future. They showed her ambition and determination to rise above her limitations.

Q. No. 19) Imagine Sophie’s father finds out about Sophie’s going to the canal to meet Danny Casey which leads him to think that she has lied to everyone about the whole affair. He is infuriated and prohibits Sophie from going anywhere except to school.

As Geoff, write a diary entry disapproving of your father’s punishment by citing your reasons for being sympathetic to Sophie.

You may begin this way:

Monday, 2 September 1940   9 PM

I cannot get myself to stand with Father in his tirade against Sophie. Sure, she is not the most…

Ans.

Monday, 2 September 1940 9 PM

I cannot get myself to stand with Father in his tirade against Sophie. Sure, she is not the most conventional of us, but to forbid her from going anywhere except to school seems utterly unfair. Sophie might dream big, perhaps bigger than life itself, but that doesn’t make her deceitful. She’s just a girl with aspirations way beyond the biscuit factory or our small, cramped home. Father fails to understand the fire in her, the spark that pushes her to strive for something more. Punishing her this way, cutting off her wings, it’s just cruel.

I've seen Sophie's eyes light up when she talks about meeting Danny Casey or opening that boutique. It's her escape from the mundane, from our limited world. Father doesn't grasp how important these dreams are to her. He's fixated on our struggles and can’t see beyond that. But Sophie deserves more than this narrow restriction. She needs support, not suffocation, to thrive. I wish Father could see that. I’ll stand by Sophie, for she deserves to dream, even if it’s the 'impossible'.

Geoff

Q. No. 20) Unrealistic dreams often lead to a great deal of unhappiness. Justify the statement on the basis of the story “Going Places”.

Ans. Unrealistic dreams can lead to unhappiness when they do not match reality. In Going Places, Sophie belongs to a lower-middle-class family, but she dreams of opening a boutique, becoming an actress or fashion designer, and living a glamorous life.

She also imagines meeting Danny Casey, a famous football player. However, these dreams are difficult to achieve because of her poor financial condition and limited opportunities. When Danny does not come to meet her at the canal, Sophie feels deeply disappointed and sad.

Thus, Sophie’s story shows that while dreams can give us hope, unrealistic dreams can cause disappointment and unhappiness when they are far from reality.

Q. No. 21) Maintaining a balance between one’s fantasies and the real world is the key to survival. Give your opinion on Sophie’s character in light of the above statement.

Ans. Sophie’s character shows the struggle between dreams and reality. She belongs to a lower-class family with financial problems and limited opportunities. To escape from this difficult life, she dreams of opening a boutique, becoming an actress, or meeting Danny Casey.

Her imagination gives her hope and happiness and makes her dream of a better future. However, Sophie starts confusing her fantasies with reality. For example, she believes that she will meet Danny Casey at the canal, but he never comes.

Thus, Sophie’s character shows that dreams are important because they give us hope, but we must also stay connected to reality. If we become too lost in fantasies, they can lead to disappointment and sadness.

Q. No. 22) How do the characters of Sophie from ‘Going Places’ and Subbu from ‘Poets and Pancakes’ compare and contrast in terms of their aspirations, constraints, and the pursuit of their dreams?

Ans. While both Sophie and Subbu share aspirations for success in their respective fields, they encounter different constraints and demonstrate distinct approaches in pursuing their dreams.

Q. No. 23) Imagine Sophie meets Danny Casey after several years.

Write a dialogue exchange between them where Sophie explains what that meeting means to her.

Ans. Sophie: "Danny, it's been years since that day at the arcade. Meeting you meant the world to me. It was this glimmer of hope, this escape from the ordinary. You were my hero."

Danny: "I remember that day. You seemed so excited to meet me."

Sophie: "It wasn't just about meeting a football star. It was about the dreams I held onto. You symbolized everything I hoped for, a glimpse into a world beyond our struggles."

Danny: "I never knew."

Sophie: "It's not your fault. But that meeting, that chance to talk with someone I idolized, it felt like a spark, a possibility of a different life. I held onto that moment, hoping it would change things for me."

Danny: "I'm glad it meant so much. You've got to hold onto those dreams."

Sophie: "I do. They keep me going."

Q. No. 24) ‘Their mother sighed.
Sophie watched her back stooped over the sink and wondered at the incongruity of the delicate bow which fastened her apron strings.’

The prose selection, Going Places includes this telling comment about Sophie’s mother.

In Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers, we are told that –

‘The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s Hand.’

Imagine a conversation between Sophie’s mother and Aunt Jennifer. Create this exchange with reference to the two extracts given above.

You may begin the conversation like this …

Sophie’s mother: Your embroidery is so beautiful. Do you love tigers?

Ans.

Sophie's Mother: Your embroidery is so beautiful. Do you love tigers?

Aunt Jennifer: Thank you, dear. Yes, I do love tigers. They symbolize something I wish I could be - free and fearless, unlike me.

Sophie's Mother: I understand that feeling. My life revolves around the needs of my family. I spend my days tending to the household, just like that delicate bow on my apron, a superficial adornment to my servile role.

Aunt Jennifer: It's the same for me. The weight of my husband's wedding band is a constant reminder of the heavy burden I carry, and the control he exerts over me. My embroidery is my escape, a means to express my hidden desires and feelings.

Sophie's Mother: I know what you mean. I stay at home while the rest of the family enjoys life outside. We both have domineering husbands, and our voices go unheard in family matters.

Aunt Jennifer: Yes, it's as if we're trapped in this never-ending cycle, with no likelihood of change in our status.

In this conversation, Aunt Jennifer and Sophie's mother bond over their shared experiences of feeling burdened and constrained by their roles in their respective households, where their desires and voices are suppressed. Aunt Jennifer uses her art as a form of silent rebellion, while Sophie's mother finds solace in understanding Aunt Jennifer's struggles. Both women find common ground in the need for change, even though it seems unlikely in their current circumstances.

Q. No. 25) The different portrayals of women in the texts 'Aunt Jennifer's Tigers', 'Going Places', 'Lost Spring', and 'My Mother at Sixty-six', offer insights into the experiences of women in society.

You have been asked to address your peers and share-

→ the ways these portrayals highlight the diversity of the female experience.

→ the importance of understanding each individual woman's challenges and experiences.

Compose this draft, with reference to any three of these prescribed texts listed above.

You may begin this way:

Good morning, everyone.

As I analyzed the allotted texts...

You may end this way.

To conclude, I’d like to say that ...

Ans. Good morning, everyone.

As I analyzed the allotted texts, I noticed that though each portrayal of women was unique, they all offered varied insights into the experiences of women in society.

To begin with, Aunt Jennifer was portrayed as a victim of patriarchy, living in a world where women were expected to conform to societal norms and expectations and was unable to attain the freedom and strength she desired, due to the limitations imposed upon her by society.

In contrast, Sophie was portrayed as ambitious and determined to break free from societal norms. She refused to be limited by her gender and sought to challenge the restrictions placed upon her. Sophie's mother, on the other hand, from a generation prior, had chosen to conform and sacrifice her individuality to societal expectations.

Similarly in "Lost Spring," the grandmother and daughter-in-law, in Firozabad, were portrayed as resilient in the face of poverty and the societal constraints of their caste. However, unlike Sophie’s and Aunt Jennifer’s need to find an outlet, they found ways to make the best of their situation, despite the limitations placed upon them.

When we analyze the portrayal of the aged mother, in "My Mother at Sixty-six,", she is presented as vulnerable and in need of protection. Sadly, it does make one wonder about the unaddressed vulnerability of Sophie’s mother and the grandmother in “Lost Spring”. A point worth considering is that Kamala Das’ mother’s acceptance of her circumstances comes across as a voluntary decision, whereas that of the women in “Lost Spring” is akin to resignation.

These portrayals of women offer valuable insights into the experiences of women in our society -from victimization to resilience in the face of poverty - and offer us important lessons about strength, vulnerability, and the need for empathy and respect.

To conclude, I’d like to say that as readers, we can learn from their experiences and strive towards a more equitable and just society. These characters, stress that it is important to recognize the complexities of each woman’s experiences and refrain from passing sweeping judgments as women are not a uniform group, but rather unique individuals.

Hope you liked these questions and answers from Class 12 English Going Places by A. R. Barton. Please share this with your friends and do comment if you have any doubts/suggestions to share.

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